Despite a nine-point drop in his approval rating, Mayor Bloomberg has double-digit leads
over two announced challengers, in an early look at the 2009 Mayoral race.

New York City voters approve 66 - 27 percent of the job Mayor Bloomberg is doing,
down from a record high 75 - 20 percent approval in an October 21 survey by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. This is the first time in more than two years the
Mayor's approval has dropped below 70 percent.

If the 2009 mayoral election were held today:

Bloomberg tops New York City Comptroller William Thompson 49 - 34 percent;

Bloomberg beats U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner 50 - 34 percent.

"New York City voters like Mayor Michael Bloomberg a little less, but still a lot," said
Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "And even as Mayor Mike turns
Scrooge and tries to cancel the $400 property tax rebate, he starts his third-term reelection drive
with comfortable leads over his top two challengers so far."

"Because New Yorkers believe the City is in tough financial shape, opposition to the plan
to cancel the $400 property tax rebate is less than one would expect. Voters seem to accept the
fact that taxes will go up."

By a 72 - 25 percent margin, New York City voters favor restoration of the commuter tax
on suburbanites who work in the City. Support is strong among all groups.

Placing tolls on the free East River crossings is a "bad idea," New York City voters say 68
- 28 percent. Even Manhattan voters oppose it 55 - 38 percent.

"Taxing the folks from the suburbs is a no-brainer for the voters who don't have to pay,"
Dr. Schwartz said. "Tolls on the East River crossings? 'Fuhgeddaboutit.'"

Voters believe 54 - 35 percent that budget problems are serious enough that it is necessary
to raise taxes, and 54 - 38 percent that they are serious enough that service cuts will be necessary.

If taxes must be raised to balance the city budget, voter preferences are:

44 percent for the sales tax;

24 percent for the property tax;

21 percent for the income tax.

If services must be cut to balance the city budget, voter preferences are:

From November 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,594 New York City registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the 2009 election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates
were Anthony Weiner the Democrat and Michael Bloomberg the Independent, for
whom would you vote?

27. To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think city
spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation,
social services or culture and recreation?

TREND: To balance the city budget, if you had to choose, where do you think city
spending should be decreased - public schools, police, firefighters, sanitation,
social services or culture and recreation?

30. To help with New York City's budget problems, there is a proposal to cancel
a $400 property tax rebate mailed to homeowners at about this time every year.
Do you support or oppose this proposal to cancel a $400 property tax rebate?